The baseball community is mourning the loss of 10-year-old Lazar LaPenna, who tragically died during a Little League game in New York on Friday, April 29. The Long Island native suffered an epileptic seizure while running to first base, with the episode ending up claiming his life.
What made Lazar's passing even more tragic was that his coach dad, Gregg LaPenna, was there during the game, watching on the sidelines. According to Newsday, Lazar collapsed on the field at Point Lookout Park in Lido Beach.
Gregg, who coached his son's team in the ill-fated game, said that he had been diagnosed with epilepsy several years ago and that Lazar had managed the condition with medication. Gregg noted that his young child's death was not related to any baseball activity.
Lazar LaPenna suffers seizure in his Little League season debut
The game started as a happy one for the father and son duo, with Lazar beyond thrilled after getting a hit in the early stages of the Little League contest. Friday was the first Little League game of the season for Lazar, who had just gone on a cruise with his family and celebrated his birthday two days prior.
Gregg told the New York Post that Lazar got a really nice hit, putting the barrel of the bat on the ball. Gregg added that Lazar knew right away that it was a hit, with the crowd going crazy after that. Gregg said Lazar was so excited that when he looked over at him following the hit, his boy was smiling from ear to ear.
Gregg said he looked down for just a moment to mark Lazar's hit in the scorebook when suddenly he heard his other son Gerry yelling. Gerry, who is Lazar's 11-year-old brother, was screaming that Lazar was having a seizure and that he fell on the ground at first base.
According to Gregg, Lazar's seizures had gotten worse over the years when he had one, but the 10-year-old was nearly a year seizure-free and was on medication at the time of the incident. Gregg said that a long period of CPR was administered to his unconscious son; unfortunately, he just did not make it.
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Long Island community providing support to the Lapenna family
People have been offering their support to the LaPenna family during this difficult time. Some of them placed baseballs, baseball caps, and flowers at the ballpark where the tragedy occurred. Gregg LaPenna and his entire family told CBS News that the community's support is what is getting them through this tragedy.
Other Little League teams in the area are also paying tribute to Lazar, putting baseball bats on the porches, and using the hashtag #BatsOutForLazar on social media. Lazar's brothers are also holding on to memories of playing together with him. One brother said that he always plays games with Lazar, while the other brother said that Lazar was a really good child, and they would always play Madden, the NFL video game, against each other.
